NOVPUB
Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Masters Are Amazed at How Strong This Must Be
In this piano competition, Master Osborne served as a special invited judge. Other judges included six domestic and international members, all of whom were well-known figures in the industry.
The scoring was on a ten-point scale, with the highest and lowest scores from the seven judges being discarded, and the average score being the basis for judgement, keeping two decimal places.
The top three winners were selected based on their scores, receiving respective prize money of 100,000, 50,000, and 30,000 yuan. Contestants who did not make the top three were also given a participation subsidy of 1,000 yuan each.
As a national artistic event, this competition garnered high attention across China and the world. Numerous cameras were set up around the venue, and the live online broadcast was focused on the stage.
After the host’s introduction, the first contestant took to the stage.
All were high-level players who had been screened, with accurate sight-reading, fluent performance, precise technique, and the music was lively and natural, offering an audiovisual treat for the audience.
Yet, the most anticipated by both on-site and online audiences was the penultimate contestant to perform, Lu Qianrou.
After all, "Piano Princess" and "Musical Genius Girl" Lu Qianrou’s reputation preceded her, and as the true daughter of the wealthy Lu Family, she had many followers online.
Sure enough, when Lu Qianrou stepped onto the stage, cheers erupted from the audience instantly—
Truly the rich and fortunate heiress, she was indeed beautiful, elegant, and poised, so stunning!
After being kicked out of Crystal by Gu Zhi in the afternoon, Jiang Ting was so furious she immediately took Lu Qianrou to another well-known stylist studio.
Now appearing on stage, Lu Qianrou had exquisite makeup on, her black curly hair fell like seaweed across her chest, she wore a pure white strapless long dress that was elegant and noble, and her earrings, bracelets, and necklace were perfectly matched.
Her graceful strapless dress and her swaying hem as she walked made her slim waist stand out. Her skin was as white as a lotus blooming under the light, exuding a delicate and charming aura.
Truly the missy of the wealthy family!
Just look at Lu Qianrou’s looks, figure, and aura, she simply eclipses everyone else!
The live chat was flooded with rapid comments, all saying things likes [Miss is so beautiful, amazing!][What kind of dream must I have to marry the Piano Princess!][The true daughter is truly a true daughter, not on the same level as that illegitimate girl from the countryside!], and so on.
The internet has no memory.
The previous incident where Lu Qianrou took credit for saving someone from a truck had already been whitewashed by her operatives, but instead, Lu Sheng—
Having been praised across the web for saving Lin Yan, was now, due to a blurry hotel photo circulating online, suddenly vilified by everyone on the internet.
In this fast-consuming era, both praise and disdain from netizens seemed all too fickle and all too cheap.
After Lu Qianrou took to the stage, she gracefully bowed to the judges and audience, then elegantly and confidently took a seat at the piano.
The host explained in the timely manner that she would be performing her own original composition titled "Dusk Descent."
—Dusk Descent?
Sitting backstage in the waiting area, Lu Sheng’s expression turned icy as she watched the big screen.
Such a name for a composition was definitely not a coincidence.
Indeed, as soon as Lu Qianrou played the first note, Lu Sheng confirmed that Lu Qianrou was playing the piece she wrote just yesterday.
No wonder the score she had put in her bag had disappeared.
Lu Sheng’s gaze instantly turned colder.
She had thought she had left her score at the Li Family and did not take it back, so she didn’t mind it and later submitted another copy to the committee.
So, it was Lu Qianrou who took advantage of last night at the Lu Family’s to knock her out and steal her completed score?
That means... the piece she and Lu Qianrou submitted to the committee for this competition was the same.
Such a serious issue, and nobody from the committee said anything to her??
Lu Sheng almost laughed coldly.
The person in charge of reviewing the repertoire at the organizing committee was clearly bribed by Lu Qianrou.
And Lu Qianrou wanted her to make a fool of herself today in front of the entire audience and online viewers.
Since she had registered in the original composition category, the scoring system was different, and she could not play a piece composed by someone else once she was on stage.
If she had prepared only this one piece, but it turned out to be identical to the original composition played by Lu Qianrou who performed before her, then when her turn came, should she play or not?
If she did play, the entire venue and the online community would certainly be shocked. The subsequent issue would be the dispute over who copied whom.
With Lu Qianrou having performed before her and having a prominent reputation, it’s easy to see who the audience and netizens would support.
If she didn’t play, whether she sat at the piano awkwardly not knowing what to do, or simply lacked the courage to step onto the stage and withdrew from the competition, either way, she would become the laughingstock of Jiang City overnight.
Her sister, truly crafty and proficient in her schemes.
Watching Lu Qianrou on the screen, Lu Sheng sneered with a tug at the corner of his mouth.
Meanwhile, on stage, the piece played by Lu Qianrou directly dazzled the audience.
This "Dusk Descent" was a nocturne in a ternary form.
The first part introduced the melody with a soft bass and the middle part harmonized, the light sounds seemingly narrating the emotions of the poet Flarigaratt.
The second part surged with heightened emotion and passion, the murmuring gradually transforming into a complete expression of feelings, with romantic harmonization fully realized.
The third part returned to the atmosphere of the first part, still a narrative style of musical flow. The perfect synergy between high and low parts with the harmony created a richer and fuller musical texture.
In the end, the entire piece had a clear and gentle key, like strolling hand in hand with a loved one under the sunset, enjoying the moment, the profound emotional resonance lingering in the memory.
During the whole performance, Lu Qianrou appeared graceful and composed. Her fingers rapidly danced across the piano keys as she immersed herself in the music.
At the end of the piece, the audience was silent for two seconds.
Then erupted into fierce applause and cheers.
Even Master Osborne on the judges’ panel looked at Lu Qianrou on stage with astounded eyes.
...It’s just too beautiful to listen to!
Master Osborne himself hadn’t anticipated that this contestant, whom he had never even noticed, would possess such exquisite arranging skills.
The soft and meandering melody ran throughout the piece, with the right hand’s arpeggiated chords flowing and rising and falling. Sometimes whispering intimately, other times fervently and passionately, the melody allowed the audience to deeply feel the sense of fate and perseverance in love.
Simply brilliant.
The arrangement was on par with Rosy’s.
Although one couldn’t say that the playing technique was extremely sophisticated, just the arrangement, rhythm, and emotional ambiance of the piece alone were unmistakably masterclass!
The camera then cut to Master Osborne’s face, and the online community along with the live audience saw his eyes light up, excitingly uttering the word "amazing."
Amazing, astonishing.
When even a world-class master is amazed, it must be truly powerful!
99% of the audience present and online were laymen who were there just for the excitement and could only judge by whether it sounded pleasant.
But seeing Master Osborne’s reaction, it was not just pleasing to the ears; it was clearly of an enshrining caliber!
Worthy of being the Musical Genius, Lu Qianrou!
The one they admired truly was the best!
And Lu Qianrou on stage, upon seeing Master Osborne’s approving gaze, was even more excited, as if she could already see the champion’s trophy beckoning to her.
